nine is best experienced in full—an immersive journey that never feels confined by its sonic architecture, instead showcasing a collective of artists fully in tune with subtlety, mood, and musical balance.
Shimmering layers and fuzz-drenched hues
A rich mosaic of instrumental and electronic nuance, nine by Loop Year is a self-released treasure guided by the collaborative energy of seasoned sonic architects. Tim Koch—offering additional drums, guitar, bass, strings, synths, and a touch of mix wizardry—recently directed my ears toward this project. Spearheaded by Cailan Burns, a longtime figure in the IDM realm and known for his work as Pretty Boy Crossover (PBXO), this collection flows with understated sophistication. Burns, once nearly aligned with Skam and a vital part of early 2000s labels like Clan Analogue, Surgery, Sensory Projects, and Cocosolidciti, continues to ride the vanguard of experimental sound.
These nine tracks unfold with quiet confidence, revealing a delicately arranged set of sparks that bridge ambient electronica with lively band-like cohesion. The liner notes clearly trace each contributor’s role: Cailan offers loops, synth lines, guitar, vocoder, and melodic fragments; Ian Masters lends vocals and lyrics on “Outsiders”; Matt Harris adds Mellotron magic to “Lightness Of Being”; Noah Symons provides live percussion on “Inner Voice Harmony.” Each part converges into a seamless listening experience rich in nuance and atmospheric depth. The album’s sonic contours are also vividly mirrored in its vibrant cover art, masterfully crafted by the talented Hunchski.
Flowing instrumental passages ::
“Inner Voice Harmony” exemplifies the album’s warm, exploratory spirit, balancing flowing instrumental passages with casual lounge undertones. One can hear echoes of Syntaks’ shoegaze drift in “Sunlight Inside Of You,” whose brevity leaves a resonant emotional lift. “Chasing Daylight” swirls through shimmering layers and fuzz-drenched hues, while “Expert Dreamers” lands gently, buoyed by saccharine bleeps and ambient clarity.
From the downtempo pulse of “Trust the Fall” to the ethereal Trish Keenan-like vocal finale of “Outsiders,” nine charts a subtle radiant path through gliding rock textures, sleek rhythmic phrasing, and elegant electronic arcs. It’s a record best experienced in full—an immersive journey that never feels confined by its sonic architecture, instead showcasing a collective of artists fully in tune with subtlety, mood, and musical balance.
nine is available on Bandcamp.
